posted by Neil Aching, tired and really happy: leaving Manila after two days, having signed books for hundreds of people (and, the way of this place, having not signed books for thousands of people). I was there for the third Philippine Graphic/Fiction award. I started the award back in 2005, with Jaime Daez from Fully Booked (they do all the hard work and heavy lifting. I just put up the prize money). I'm just thrilled to see the quality of SF/horror/fantastic fiction coming out of the Philippines.

Two boxes of gifts are being sent home. In my luggage, just one box of chocnut, a package of dried mangoes, a book and a bottle of local rum (because posting alcohol is sometimes problematic).

Now in an airport lounge. I fly to Amsterdam, where I change planes and go to Warsaw. Tomorrow (Saturday) I accompany Amanda to Wroclaw, where she's playing a festival. Then she comes with me to Warsaw, where I'm doing interviews and a signing.

It's at Empik Junior Marszalkowska Str, where I do a Q&A at 5 pm and a signing at 6 on Monday the 22nd.

And from Poland I go to Moscow, where I talk and sign on the 24th and 25th. (Details over at Where's Neil - http://www.neilgaiman.com/where/.) Come and say hello, and spread the word on Russian blogs and LJs - I've never been to Russia before and have no idea what to expect, or if anyone will turn up or not...

Before I fly away I want to say thank you to the people here in Manila. I've never felt so loved. And never been so hugged. Thank you all, so much. (Lots of coverage of the Award and photos of the Award Ceremony at http://azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com/search/label/neil gaiman in manila 2010) Labels:  Poland, I am really going to Russia, dried mangoes

Publication Date: 2010 Mar 17 PMID: 20237259Authors: Kawamura, M. Jr - Ruskin, D. N. - Masino, S. A.Journal: J NeurosciMetabolic perturbations that decrease or limit blood glucose-such as fasting or adhering to a ketogenic diet-reduce epileptic seizures significantly. To date, the critical links between altered metabolism and decreased neuronal activity remain unknown. More generally, metabolic changes accompany numerous CNS disorders, and the purines ATP and its core molecule adenosine are poised to translate cell energy into altered neuronal activity. Here we show that nonpathological changes in metabolism induce a purinergic autoregulation of hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neuron excitability. During conditions of sufficient intracellular ATP, reducing extracellular glucose induces pannexin-1 hemichannel-mediated ATP release directly from CA3 neurons. This extracellular ATP is dephosphorylated to adenosine, activates neuronal adenosine A(1) receptors, and, unexpectedly, hyperpolarizes neuronal membrane potential via ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. Together, these data delineate an autocrine regulation of neuronal excitability via ATP and adenosine in a seizure-prone subregion of the hippocampus and offer new mechanistic insight into the relationship between decreased glucose and increased seizure threshold. By establishing neuronal ATP release via pannexin hemichannels, and hippocampal adenosine A(1) receptors coupled to ATP-sensitive K(+) channels, we reveal detailed information regarding the relationship between metabolism and neuronal activity and new strategies for adenosine-based therapies in the CNS.post to: CiteULike